Toxic Contamination in Southeast Los Angeles

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in order to bring attention to an issue afflicting communities in southeast Los Angeles.

Today communities in Vernon and the surrounding areas are dealing with the aftermath of years of toxic contamination by a now-closed lead-acid battery recycling plant.

The recycling plant, which was owned by the company Exide Technologies, operated for years in the city of Vernon. Even though it had multiple violations documented by inspectors in the late 1990s of bad things going on, there were few punitive measures used against them.

Ultimately, who paid the price? The contaminated areas can be cleaned up, but those communities that live there, mostly composed of working class Mexican Americans, now have to deal with long-term health effects of being exposed, like cancer.

Time and time again, when our infrastructure fails us, when corporations violate the rules, it is the most vulnerable communities that pay for it. I want to remind my colleagues we have to be vigilant.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source